On Friday, NHRA officials announced changes to the 2013 oildown and in-season nitro testing policies that must have championship contenders licking their chops. While monetary fines for oildowns have increased this season, the most significant policy change is the elimination of points penalties during the six race Countdown to the Championship. Teams who qualify for the countdown will receive one oildown credit, but they longer need to worry about losing a championship because of an oildown points penalty.

Besides the updated oildown policy, the other major announcement revolves around the in-season nitro testing policy. Back in 2009, Top Fuel and Funny Car team owners approached the NHRA to establish an in-season testing limit of six days as a cost savings measure. During the 2012-2013 offseason, team owners asked the NHRA to reconsider this policy and as a result, the in-season testing policy has been lifted. Not only will this allow teams to test on an unlimited basis, it opens up opportunities for them to participate in match races around the country. The term “Monday Nationals” will certainly take on a whole new meaning starting in 2013.

Fans, teams and officials all agree that delays caused by oildowns at national events are frustrating and something needs to be done to reduce the frequency of occurrence. As such, the NHRA has increased the monetary fines associated with these unnecessary delays. The fine for a first violation at an event will increase to $1,500 in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories, with subsequent violations at the same event doubling to $3,000.

Monetary fines for Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will remain the same as 2012: $1,000 for first-time offenders and $2,000 for all subsequent violations at the same event. In addition to the monetary fines, teams will also lose championship points except at the final six events of the season. Points penalties remain the same as 2012: first violations result in a loss of five points during qualifying, and first violations during eliminations result in a loss of 10 points. Subsequent violations at the same event will result in each team losing 10 points during qualifying and 20 points during eliminations.

It remains to be seen if these new policies coupled with improved clean-up capabilities will decrease the downtime at national events, but this is a great step in the right direction.